The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-15

salism makes no less of Gods justice
than Partialism does, but it gives it
different place and object in the econo-
my of Gods affairs. In short, it regards
God as primarily Father, and second
arily Judge, his judgments being al
ways in accordance with his fatherhood
and directed to the ends of love.
Universalists, therefore, believe that
God will not be satisfied with anything
less than the final salvation of all man.
kind. They believe that all souls are
his, and that he so loves them all that
he will have them all to be saved, and
that if even one should remain unsaved
forever, it would forever destroy his
paternal happiness and forever mar his
kingly glory, since it would prevent
him from being "all in ALL" That any
thing should prevent him in the end
from accomplishing his loving purpose,
they regard as impossible for he is
God, and there is none beside him. His
wisdom and power are commensurate
with his love, and His arm is not
shortened that he cannot save" He
knew when he created each human soul
exactly what its end would be, and as
he created all alike in love, it cannot be
that he foreknew the endless misery of
any.
In regard to Jesus Christ, Universe
lists believe exactly what the Bible
says-that he is the Son of God, sent
into this world by the heavenly Father,
for the purpose of reconciling mankind
to himself, and giving them eternal
life. They believe that he is the true
Mediator between God and men, and
that there is none other name given
under heaven whereby men must be
saved. He is to them the express i'm
age of Gods person, and the true ex-
ponent of Gods will. They believe
that he saves men, not by shielding
them from the wrath of God and de-
livering them from the punishment
which they deserve for their sins, but
by drawing them away from their sins
to himself, by enlightening their minds
with his heavenly truth and impart-
ing his spirit to their souls; and they
believe that, having been lifted up from
the earth, he will fulfill his promise
thus to draw all men unto himself.
They believe that the Father hath
given all things into his hand, and that
of all that have been given to him, he
shall lose not one, but that his mighty
work of atone ment shall go steadily
forward till he shall have subdued the
last enemy, and shall give up to the
Father kingdom of righteousness, en-
bracing every human soul.
1t is sometimes said that Universe
lists believe that all men will be saved
any way. without regard to their manner
of life. Nothing could be further from
the truth. They believe not that all men
will be saved "any way" but that all
men will be saved in the only way in
which there is salvation for any person.
II am the way" said Jesus and that
is the only way which Universalists rec
ognize. They know of no other door of
salvation and preach no other. Univer-
salism means universal righteousness,
universal obedience to the command
ments of God. Universalists believe
that whatsoever would be saved must
call upon the name of the Lord, with
repentance, faith, and godly works
They believe, however, unlike most of
their fellows Christians, that the door
of salvation will always be open, and
that all men will finally avail themselves
of it. They deny the doctrine that
death will close it against the unrepent-
ant sinner. They do not believe in a
second probation, because they reject
the fundamental idea of probation,
which implies that there is somewhere
limit to Gods mercy, and point
beyond which there is no opportunity
for repentance, faith and reformation.
They believe that Gods mercy ''endur-
eth forever" and that by means of a
continuous spiritual discipline, not
broken at death, but extending from
this life into the next one, and lasting
as long as the occasion continues, he
will finally win the whole world to him
self.
Universalists, as a rule, believe in
future punishment though not in end
less punishment, which is an altogether
different thing. There is no church
which lays a stronger stress on the GER
tainty of retribution. They believe
that Whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also reap" and that they who
spend their lives in sin, must suffer the
consequences, not only in this world,
but also in the other world, till by fully
obeying the conditions of salvation
they bring themselves into a condition
where no more punishment is needed.
"Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth
and scourgeth every son whom he re-
ceiveth;" and Though no Christening
for the present seemeth to be joyous,
but grievous, nevertheless afterwards
it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of right
eousness unto them which are exercised
thereby" These two sayings embody